The end of the preseason is drawing near for the Los Angeles Lakers and it seems as though the team is starting to come together despite numerous injuries at key positions.
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Perhaps the most consistent player of all the Lakers so far has been Jordan Hill. The veteran forward/center is the backbone for the team in the frontcourt and he hasn’t disappointed after signing a lucrative two-year deal in the off-season.
On Tuesday, Hill finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes on the floor against the Phoenix Suns. Although the Lakers fell to the Suns in overtime, the squad played well with Jeremy Lin returning to help lead the way for the purple and gold.
Hill talked about Lin’s importance to this team in the locker room after the game at the Honda Center:
“He’s going to be really important. Especially with Steve Nash out. He’s a good player. A good point guard.”
After missing a handful of preseason games with ankle injuries, Lin made his return to the floor on Tuesday night. Lin came off the bench against the Suns and filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
With Steve Nash’s future in doubt once again, head coach Byron Scott could turn to Lin as the starting point guard to get the season started next week. If Lin gets the nod as the starter in the season opener, he’ll do it against his former team in the Houston Rockets on Oct. 28.
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